KATHMANDU, Aug 4: CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that he is ready to work jointly with all political parties on national issues without harboring any prejudice. Dahal, who was presenting his candidacy in the prime ministerial election in Parliament Wednesday, said that he wished for an end to the politics of negation.
Dahal stresses on consensus for addressing national issues
"CPN-UML's decision not to contest this (prime ministerial) election is a positive one. It will help in developing consensus in future and in working together on the national agenda, but I am still not satisfied as the House faces a division in this election. We again could not establish a consensus in the needed time," said Dahal in Parliament.
Dahal urged the political parties to establish consensus on issues of national importance although his effort for a national consensus government had failed this time.
Dahal also vowed that he would give continuity to development projects such as the Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track and the Postal Highway, as per the budget presented by the outgoing government.
"We are ready to take forward the development plans presented in the budget. We were a part of the outgoing government. However, the PM in his resignation speech questioned us as if the projects were envisaged by him alone. I assure the House that such projects will be continued," said Dahal, referring to the speech of outgoing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who had asked leaders what would be the fate of some major national projects that were expedited during his nine-month tenure.
However, Dahal questioned Oli about his development model. "We are in a situation where we cannot meet even the recurrent expenditures without foreign aid or loans. How could development dreams be fulfilled without the resources? All the development projects for which a budget is already allocated will move forward. Otherwise, dreams without resources will remain dreams, be it a dream of a gas-pipe or purchasing a ship," said Dahal sarcastically.
"This country belongs to you also. Show me the resources and I am ready to fulfill all your dreams," said Dahal referring to Oli.
Proposing Dahal as candidate for PM in Parliament, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba said that government change is the beauty of democracy and it will strengthen democratic practice.
"It is our responsibility to promote universal acceptance of the Constitution and I hope the new government will make it widely acceptable as the agitating Madhes-based parties are present here to vote," said Deuba.
"To establish ownership of the Constitution by all the communities and citizens, we have decided to address the demands of Madhes, including provincial delineation, through constitutional amendment. I hope this will make the Constitution widely accepted and will not take a long time for this to happen," Deuba added.
